Concerns over fall in MMR vaccine uptake in North East after Liverpool measles death
The death of a child from measles in Liverpool shows that the nation needs to 'redouble its efforts' to vaccinate more children, according to Wes Streeting.
The most recently available figures show that vaccination rates of MMR1 at 24 months - the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine - and the second dose (MMR2) at five-years-old have both fallen across the region.
The percentage of children who had the two vaccines in the North East in 2013/14 was 95.5 per cent (MMR1) and 92.9 per cent (MMR2). But the rates had fallen to 93.9 per cent (MMR1) and 89.7 per cent (MMR2) in 2023/24.
Despite the fall, the North East continues to buck the trend as the vaccination rate ranks as one of the highest in the country and is still above the national average.
The percentage of children receiving the MMR1 vaccine nationwide in 2023/24 was 88.9 per cent, and the figure for MMR2 was 83.9 per cent. The national target is 95%.
Dr Catherine Monaghan, medical director, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "Whilst uptake of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine in our region continues to be higher than the national average, any fall in vaccination rates is concerning for us.
"Measles is a highly infectious illness, and can cause life-changing complications including blindness, deafness and swelling of the brain. Very sadly measles can sometimes be fatal."
County Durham is the best county in the North East for vaccine uptake, but rates there have fallen over the last ten years.
Children in with both doses of MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday (Image: PA WIRE) In 2013/14, the vaccination rates of MMR1 at 24 months was 97.2 per cent, which fell to 95.7 per cent in 2023/24. The vaccination rates of MMR2 at five-years-old in 2013/14 was 94.6 per cent, which fell to 94.2 per cent in 2023/24.
The rates also fell in Darlington, where the leader of the council noted the "downward trend" and encouraged residents to "protect your family".
Councillor Stephen Harker said: "All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated and I would strongly encourage parents and carers to check that their child is up to date with their MMR vaccination.
"This is usually administered at around one year and then again at three years and four months."
Last year, there were 79 confirmed cases of measles in the North East, the lowest of anywhere in the country. The next highest was the North West (99), with London having the highest (1,305).
So far in 2025, there have only been six recorded cases in the North East, the lowest in the country by some distance. The next lowest is the East Midlands (17), with London again being the highest (233).
Dr Monaghan spoke further of the dangers of coming into contact with someone who has measles.
She said: "Spending just 15 minutes or more in direct contact with someone infected is enough to catch measles, making it one of the most infectious diseases in the world.
"Anyone who has not yet had their MMR vaccination (or is not otherwise immune because they have previously had measles), is at risk of catching this very serious but completely preventable disease, which is highly likely to spread rapidly if people remain unvaccinated.
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"Anyone whose immunity is compromised, including pregnant women, are also at increased risk of severe disease from measles."
Dr Monaghan stressed that NHS health teams across the region are working to increase uptake by identifying the areas with lower MMR rates and engaging with these communities around their vaccination needs.
The full list of vaccine uptake in the last ten years across the North East can be found below.
MMR1 at 24 months in 2013/14
County Durham - 97.2%
Darlington - 93.4%
Hartlepool - 91.7%
Middlesbrough - 92.7%
Redcar and Cleveland - 95.5%
Stockton-on-Tees - 94.6%
MMR1 at 24 months in 2023/24
County Durham - 95.7%
Darlington - 91.9%
Hartlepool - 93.5%
Middlesbrough - 86.9%
Redcar and Cleveland - 92.7%
Stockton-on-Tees - 93.3%
MMR2 at five-years-old in 2013/14
County Durham - 94.6%
Darlington - 91.3%
Hartlepool - 90.3%
Middlesbrough - 90.3%
Redcar and Cleveland - 93.4%
Stockton-on-Tees - 90.6%
MMR2 at five-years-old in 2023/24
County Durham - 94.2%
Darlington - 87.9%
Hartlepool - 89.2%
Middlesbrough - 77.9%
Redcar and Cleveland - 89.1%
Stockton-on-Tees - 89.7%
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